1881.] Physiology of Sugar in the Animal System. 



419 



contact with blood. Bernard said of it " Cette derniere [matiere 

 glycogene du foie] est tellement alterable qu'elle ne peut pas exister 

 dans le sang sans etre immediatement changee en sucre, de sorte qu'elle 

 ne pent jamais sortir dn foie qne sons cet etat." This impression has 

 governed the position left open to ns to take in relation to the disposal 

 of the material, and rendered it necessary to look for some undis- 

 covered mode of transformation of it within the liver under the pre- 

 sumption that it does not reach the circulatory system as sugar. 



We have here a fundamental point to deal with ; and, as in my 

 original communication to the Society, I had to commence by clear- 

 ing the ground of error, so now it happens that I have to proceed in 

 a similar way in relation to the point in question. I have results to 

 communicate which appear to me to place us in a new position, but 

 before these are considered it is requisite that the knowledge upon 

 which we start should be set right. 



Whatever may be the future of the glycogenic theory, the substance 

 which Bernard was the first to recognise will stand as it exists now. 

 The name " Glycogen " was applied to it when certainly an erroneous 

 notion existed regarding the condition of the liver and of the blood in 

 relation to sugar. Its presumed destination suggested the application 

 of the term. I have hitherto objected to its employment, and I have 

 stronger grounds for doing so now. To avoid the incorporation of 

 theory, I have spoken, in my previous writings, of the body in ques- 

 tion under the provisional name of " amyloid substance." Something 

 more definite than this is for final purposes required, and it appears to 

 me that it would be a fitting tribute to the memory of its discoverer 

 to call it "Bernardin." Such a name will be at once suggestive of 

 the substance to which it is intended to refer, and will form an im- 

 perishable memorial, which, whatever doctrine may prevail, will serve 

 to identify the person, to whom all must admit physiological science 

 owes so much, with the subject which formed the most prominent field 

 of his labours. 



Entering now upon the res alts which it is the object of this com- 

 munication to make known, I will begin with the experiments bearing 

 on the effect of bringing Bernardin (glycogen) into contact with 

 blood. 



In these experiments the Bernardin was dissolved in a small quan- 

 tity of water, and mixed with the blood in a defibrinated state. 

 Sheep's blood was the kind of blood used. The product was placed 

 in an oven specially constructed for such a purpose, and maintained 

 for half an hour at a temperature between 100° and 110° E. It was 

 then subjected to examination, and the quantity of sugar present 

 ascertained by the ammoniated cupric test.* 



* The ammoniated cupric test referred to was described by me in former 

 communications published in " Proc. Roy. Soc." vol. 28, p. 260, and vol. 29, 



